Christ, after the first 3 or so pages of replies not answering the question but just having to point out how awful they find the very idea because it’s so terribly consumerist don’t you know, you wouldn’t think anyone else would feel the need to repeat basically the same thing, but people just can’t help themselves can they?
I don’t think of it as a ‘Dec 1st box’ exactly, but Christmas starts in our house on 1st December. Yes I know it’s not the old fashioned view of 12 days of Christmas etc, but it’s how we like to do it so there we are. I do in fact have a huge box in the garage that is full of Christmassy stuff and we will get it out at beginning of December so essentially it’s a Dec 1st box. It contains:
—lots and lots of Christmas or winter themed picture/ story books - most of these I’ve had from my teaching days, and others I’ve picked up in charity shops since DD was born. The last couple of years I’ve done a book advent calendar type thing, wrapping one up for each day in December to open and read together. The first year it was a big hit, last year not so much so I think I’ll just have the books out in a basket and we’ll read them as and when.
-Christmas colouring sheets/ books, old cards and bits of ribbons/ bows that I’ve saved from previous years and we can use for craft/ play this year
-wooden Lanka Kade Christmas/ winter figures - I admit I bought these new for DD’s first Christmas, hideous commercial sheep that I am. She sets up little scenes and things with them
-Wooden nativity set from Aldi - bought new last year but if I promise we will use it for many more years maybe I’ll just about get away with it?
-Christmas cookie/ play dough cutters and a Christmas apron - terribly commercial planet-killing etc etc but were given to us a gifts a few years ago so not actually my fault directly those ones
We also have a fabric advent calendar (made 40+ years ago by my MIL for her boys and then gifted by her to DD) with pockets that we will fill with little bits and bobs - probably mostly chocolate coins
We put on Christmas bedding - hand me downs from friend’s children and used every year. Also have a set for DH and I’s bed which my mum bought me the year before she died - 13 years ago now, and I still use every year (more of a wintery theme than Christmas exactly). And we swap our hand soap dispensers for Father Christmas and Snowman shaped ones - bought with the soap in about 6 years ago now and re-used/ refilled.
I will probably add a couple of craft kits, baking bits or art supplies as and when I see things that are affordable and I think DD would enjoy. I like having things available and to hand, and it makes sense to me that we would keep those things in … well a box.
Wait for it … we also have an (admittedly much smaller) Easter one (spring/ Easter stories, plastic eggs we use for egg hunts, bunny, egg and chick shaped cutters, sticker books and craft stuff, bonnet grandma made, bunny ears and stuff for role play/ dressing up) AND horror of horrors a Halloween one (a light up pumpkin, couple of plastic bowls/ cauldrons that she can use to make ‘potions’ in when playing, fabric leaves that we use for Autumn themed tuff trays with different animal figures etc, a few paper decorations we put up)